The formal portion of the 2015-2016 session of the Massachusetts Legislature produced landmark laws governing energy, economic development and pay equity. House Speaker Robert DeLeo recently sat down with AIM Executive Vice President John Regan to talk about the sesssion and what the results will mean for employers.

In the face of the tragic attempt to assassinate Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday, Associated Industries of Massachusetts is today asking Massachusetts employers to consider a simple expression of support for democratic civility. We ask you to send an email to your state representative or senator, your member of Congress, or to the governor, and thank them for their service.

The pervasive cynicism that swirls around modern politics often obscures the fact that running for public office represents an act of courage and sacrifice. Men and women who place their names on the election ballot set themselves in a uniquely personal way before the judgment of the general public. They willingly take their most fundamental ideas, beliefs and personal histories and argue them in a court of public opinion where even successful candidates know that their views may not carry the day and that thousands of people would rather have someone else doing the job.

And, on rare occasions it seems, one of those people takes electoral decisions into his own hands with a gun and kills six people.

AIM, its member employers, its supporters and the people who disagree with us depend upon the opportunity for open and respectful debate as we work with legislators to improve the economy and create opportunity for the citizens of Massachusetts. We call upon other business groups, organized labor and individual citizens to join us today in acknowledging our elected officials and letting them know that our agreements or disagreements do not diminish our commitment to the fundamental principles of representative democracy.

It is ironic that the shooting of Representative Giffords, Federal Judge John Roll and 16 others came three days after the peaceful transfer of power in the United States House of Representatives from Democratic to Republican control while Democrats peacefully maintained a majority in the Senate. Representative Giffords was among the lawmakers who read a portion of the U.S. Constitution during ceremonies on Wednesday. Let us take at least a day to add our voices to hers in support of the democratic process and find hope in the words of Massachusetts native John Adams who noted that "the happiness of society is the end of government."